A recent study revealed that exposure during pregnancy to the chemical DEHP is linked to an increase in certain symptoms associated with autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children.
DEHP, also known as dieth(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, is used in the manufacture of some plastic products and can enter the body through food, inhalation, or skin contact.
Researchers from Australia studied the effect of exposure to this substance during pregnancy on fetal brain development, focusing on what is known as epigenetic programming, a mechanism that can change gene activity without changing the DNA sequence itself.
The researchers analyzed urine samples from 847 pregnant women at 36 weeks of gestation, along with umbilical cord blood samples after delivery. They also examined changes in DNA methylation, one of the mechanisms that regulates gene activity.
The team monitored the behavior of children aged two and four years through questionnaires filled out by parents, which included indicators such as attention, hyperactivity and social difficulties.
The results showed that higher levels of DEHP exposure during pregnancy were associated with increased hyperactivity, attention deficit, and peer interaction problems in children, with the strongest associations in children who scored in the top 2% of exposure levels.
The researchers also identified a network of 531 genes known as Co-MN1, which they found to be linked to exposure to the substance and to important processes in brain development, attention, and social behavior. Some of the genes in this network overlap with genes previously linked to autism and ADHD, including FOXP1 and SHANK2.
Despite these findings, the study does not prove that exposure to DEHP directly causes autism or ADHD, as the nature of the study does not allow for establishing a causal relationship. Furthermore, these disorders are linked to multiple genetic and environmental factors.
In another finding, the researchers found that following a diet that relied more on whole, unprocessed foods during pregnancy was associated with changes in the same genetic network, but in the opposite direction to the changes associated with DEHP exposure, along with a reduction in some attention problems and improved social behavior in children.
The study adds to the evidence examining the impact of environmental chemicals on prenatal brain development, and supports the need for further research into safe levels of phthalate exposure, particularly during pregnancy.
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